The Great White Hype (1996)

Director:

Reginald Hudlin

Writers (WGA):

Tony Hendra (screenplay) and
Ron Shelton (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 May 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

If you can't find the perfect contender....make one.

Plot:

When the champ's promoter, Rev. Sultan, decides something new is needed to boost the marketability of the boxing matches...

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Boxer | Satire | Corruption | Woman As Object

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Rev. Fred Sultan
Jeff Goldblum	...	Mitchell Kane
Peter Berg	...	Terry Conklin
Corbin Bernsen	...	Peter Prince
Jon Lovitz	...	Sol
Cheech Marin	...	Julio Escobar
John Rhys-Davies	...	Johnny Windsor
Salli Richardson-Whitfield	...	Bambi (as Salli Richardson)
Jamie Foxx	...	Hassan El Ruk'n
Rocky Carroll	...	Artemus St. John Saint
Albert Hall	...	Roper's Manager
Susan Gibney	...	Vivian
Michael Jace	...	Marvin Shabazz
Duane Davis	...	Palace Guard #1
Lamont Johnson	...	Palace Guard #2

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #34402) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Denmark:16 | UK:15

Company:

Atman Entertainment

Trivia:

The lion's head entrance to the MGM Grand featured in the movie has since been removed because many Chinese gamblers avoided the casino (or entered through the back entrance), due to the feng shui belief that entering the mouth of the lion was bad luck.

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of Roper's cigarette just before the fight.

Quotes:

Sol: I can't make caviar out of fish eggs!

Movie Connections:

Features Dolemite (1975)

Soundtrack:

Bring The Pain

Funny, Boxing Insider type Movie

First of all, this movie is funny. Even if you're not an insider to the world of boxing, this film makes many references you'll recognize and goes over the top with it and with some of the flamboyant people who have graced the sport.

Then there is the whole idea of finding a white boxer, besides the obligatory "Rocky" that is, that people can get behind to breathe new life into the sport.

Here you have every stereotype of that world thrown in from the promoters to the media personnel who made boxing what it is today -- Hype.

Here is a promoter who is keeping his client from fighting the one guy who can actually beat him (hence ruin their meal tickets), to come up with someone else to make Hype and recover funds he already spent that he can't pay the boxing champ. That among other things. Samuel L. Jackson is fun to watch as is Jeff Goldblum and Jamie Fox and Damon Wayons as the over-hyped champ. Rounding this out is the usual bottom feeders played well by Jon Lovitz and Corbin Bernsen. This movie can be uneven at times, but overall its entertainment, and a sarcastic view into the boxing promotion world like no other. Two stars out of four.